BOSTON -- If Koji Uehara gets up in the bullpen, count on him to enter the game at some point.

Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell doesn't hesitate to use Uehara in non-save situations (Uehara has been used twice this season to close out games with a four-run lead). Further, if Uehara warms up, he doesn't like sitting back down.

During the Red Sox's 5-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday, Uehara got warm when the Red Sox has a 2-1 lead in the eighth. They scored three more that inning, but Uehara closed out the game anyway.

Farrell knows Uehara's innings are precious and valuable, but the 39-year-old has a routine.

"Dealing with Koji, once he gets hot, he's pretty adamant about getting in the game," Farrell said. "I recognize that a non-save situation on one game could take away from his availability on another day. Even in a four-run game, though, I think it's shown over time there's been consistency of getting a closer in a game. You get a guy on (base), he's going to be up and get hot anyway.

"But dealing with Koji, he's adamant once he gets hot, he wants in a game. And I'm not strictly opposed to that, because of how efficient he's been and how resilient he's been."